Mærsk’s giant methanol ship sets sail

The newest addition to Maersk’s methanol-powered fleet, the 350-meter-long ‘Antonia Mærsk,’ has been named in Aarhus during a harbor ceremony. This vessel, capable of carrying around 16,500 containers, is the largest in the world that can operate on methanol, which can be produced from biogas or biomass. Maersk CEO Vincent Clerc highlighted the company’s green ambitions, emphasizing the complexity of transitioning to green fuels and the need for political action to bridge the cost gap between green and fossil fuels. Currently, Maersk charges a premium for shipping using green fuels due to their higher costs compared to traditional bunker oil. ‘Antonia Mærsk’ will initially run partly on fossil fuels due to challenges in sourcing sufficient green methanol. It joins Maersk’s other methanol-fueled ships, with green methanol reducing emissions by at least 65% per ship.